Palmeiras are it once again. One of the best academies in the world has continuously produced talented individuals that have gone on to secure moves at Europe’s biggest clubs.
Endrick became the most expensive outgoing when Real Madrid snapped up the forward for €60m, before Estêvão secured his future with Chelsea and will join the Premier League in 2025.
Luis Guilherme joined West Ham in the recent summer transfer window, as Palmeiras’ young attacking trio all left the nest earlier than their fans would have liked.
And now a committee of European clubs are circling around their young centre-back looking to pinch their next best prodigy.
However, this time, it isn’t a final third showstopper. Instead, it’s a player at the other end of the pitch who has progressed from the academy and is on track to secure a potential Brasileirão title.
That individual is centre-back Vitor Reis. The 18-year-old hasn’t looked back since making his debut on 27th June against Fortaleza. Although Palmeiras lost 3-0, the damage was already done before Reis came on to replace the injured Murilo with 18 minutes left.
Yet less than a week later, Reis made his debut against rivals Corinthians. Murilo, although injured, was placed on the bench by Abel Fereira, presumably as a precaution if Reis was out of his depth.
But quite the opposite happened. Reis scored a towering header from a Raphael Veiga corner, and even though Palmeiras’ captain was sent off in the 64th minute, Reis was part of the defence that kept a clean sheet and sealed the three points.
Having proven himself almost instantly, Murilo was left out of the squad for the next three matches in order to recover, as Reis went on to start the next three matches in his absence.
That wasn’t his only goal of the season (so far), either. Palmeiras beat Flamengo 1-0 in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals second leg, thanks to Reis’ header.
Vitor Reis: Player Profile
So, why are top European clubs queueing around the block?
Although many are quick to point out his physical frame isn’t his best asset, he’s consistently shown at both ends of the pitch how reliable he is in the air. In the Brasileirão, Reis has won 70% of his aerial duels from his 11 appearances to date.
Reis’ calm aura on and off the ball are qualities that stand out at his tender age. Rarely will you see the centre-back panic while defending, often putting himself in the best possible position to not only intercept and make the tackle, but to win the ball back and pass to a teammate, rather than sliding or putting the ball out of play.
His intelligence when it comes to reading the game is arguably his best asset. This is a standout quality Murillo displayed during his time with Corinthians, and one that has helped to establish himself as a top defender in the Premier League. Do not underestimate how this part of a defender’s game can elevate their career.
Comfortable in possession, Reis has no qualms about progressing with the ball up the pitch - something we saw time and time again during his time with the academy.
This doesn’t mean he’s reckless - far from it. Reis will often look to advance the ball to a teammate in a strong position, but if that pass isn’t available and gaps in front of him appear, expect the Brazilian to venture into those areas before releasing a forward pass.
A young, proactive centre-back in 2024 is simply worth their weight in gold.
If those gaps don’t appear, Reis has the vision to match the capabilities he has with his right foot, able to switch the play with ease. Not one to shy away from playing wingers in behind full-backs, the 18-year-old has completed 58% of his long balls in his 11 Brasileirão appearances.
For context, Nottingham Forest’s Murillo was 50% from his 13 Brasileirão appearances for Corinthians in 2023. PSG’s Lucas Beraldo’s was 54% during his 24 Serie A games with Sao Paulo.
Reis’ tackles per game, ground duels and aerial duels are also currently higher than Murillo’s and Beraldo’s, and although it’s only a small sample size to dive into, it’s the way in which he’s taken to senior football - so quickly - that has been seriously impressive.
Vitor Reis: The future
While Estêvão has received plenty of plaudits after his incredible debut season, Reis’ initial months in senior football can’t be overlooked - and it appears as though many top European clubs don’t want to miss out.
Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, to name a few, are showing interest, and with the January transfer window around the corner, Palmeiras will be expecting enquiries for their young centre-back.
The Brazilian club have seemingly prepared themselves for an inevitable bidding war, as there’s a release clause in excess of €100m within his contract, which has no doubt been implemented to help drive up his price.
This isn’t Palmeiras’ first rodeo when it comes to selling their star assets. For now, Vitor Reis’s focus remains on helping his team secure back-to-back Brasileirão titles when called upon, before thinking about his next move come the end of the year.
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